About 450 Entergy customers west of Benton, meanwhile, were in the dark Wednesday after a vehicle hit a power pole off U.S. 67 south of I-30, Entergy said. The utility added power should be restored by 3 p.m.

"While temperatures could still creep up a couple of degrees this afternoon, the safer course of action was to make the Advisories extend through the afternoon, since some places will probably not make it above freezing," warning coordination meteorologist John Robinson said in an email. "Plus, with the ground already so cold, it is taking very little precipitation to cause slick spots, especially on bridges and overpasses."

Robinson said wrecks have also been reported on U.S. 64 in Faulkner County.

The Arkansas State Department of Highways and Transportation reported highways slick with ice or ice patches in much of west Arkansas, including ice on Interstate 40 from Ozark west to the state border. Slowed and stopped traffic was reported in that stretch of I-40 about 11:30 a.m.

The Yell County sheriff's office took reports of 20 wrecks on icy roadways, including "all mountain highways," Arkansas 7 and Arkansas 27, according to a post on its Facebook page.

"Please do not travel unless you have to, we expect that conditions on the roadways will improve this afternoon as the highway crews have time to work," the posting said.

The Maumelle Fire Department, meanwhile, said sleet in that city caused icy patches on some bridges, including a Maumelle Boulevard overpass.